Machine for making packages



- .Jan. 30, 1945. I M. SIDEBOTHAM 2,363,429

MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 25, 1942 12 Sheets-Sheet l I .m ix v,

Jan. 30, 1945. M. H.'SIDEBOTHAM "MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 23, 1942 l2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 l/we/rfan Jan. 30, 1945. M. H. SIDE BOTHAM ,3 9

MACHINE FQR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 25, 1942 l2 Sheets-$heet 3 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1942 Jan. 30, 1945. M. H. SIDEBOTHAM I MACHINE FOR-MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 25, 1942 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 UZ/Zl/ W My.

Jan. 30, 1945. M. H. SIDEBOTHAM MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 25, 1942 fm enfo/z /79/////'/ h. S/t/ebM/Mm, fi MM Lea y .Jan. 30, 1 945. I SIDEBQTHAM I 2,368,429

MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 25, 1942 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig/7 Jan. 30, 19450 M. H.' SIDEBOTHAM 2,363,429

MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 23, 1942 12 Sheet s-She et 8 [/7 Venfon Jan. 30, 1945. M. H. SIDEBOTHAM 2,368,429

MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES 7 Filed April 23, 1942 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 van by My r56 '64 5 a I l I bl'kfiiitifi lfm Jan. 30, 1945. Q 'M. H. SIDEIBOTHANI 2,368,429

MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 23, 1942 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 IIIIIIIII F/gzi/ 74' M57 4 Jan. 30, 1945.

M. H. SIDEBOTHAM MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 23, 1942 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 JahQIiQ, 1945. sm o 2,368,429 I MACHINE FOR MAKING PACKAGES Filed April 25, 1942 12 Sheets-She a: 12

the machine.

Patented Jan. 30, 1945 1 YUNITED STATES P T NT lorries I FOR MAKIN PACKAGES Melvin H. Sidebotham, Newton,-Mass., assignor of one-half to Harlow M. Russell, Chelsea,

Mass.

Application 111M123, 1942, Serial No. 440,141

16 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for packag- I do not confine my invention to the form shown,

as changes in construction and operation may be made without .departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

One object of my invention is to provide amachine which is adapted to wrap or enclose predetermined amounts of a productwithinsuitable wrapping material such as cellulosic or fibrous sheets. I

The embodiment of my invention described and claimed in this present application contemplates the production of packages of the type shown and described in my copending application Serial No.

v 426,719, filed January 14, 1942. However, my

present invention is not' limited to machines for producing this particular type of package. Packages without string attached tags may be made on my improved machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machinewhich will; by a sequence of :operations produce packages singly, successively and con tinuously, in a rapid, economical and eificient manner. V f e Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine for controllingthe commodity and wrapping materials while the package is being formed. 1

Another object of the invention toto provide a new and improved machine for making teabags and the like having a string attached tag.

Othermore specific objects and advantages of the invention will be. apparent to person skilled in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one practical embodiment of my invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tea bag making machine constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FigureZ is an elevation of the'feed'end of the machine. 1 Y Y I Figure 3 is a rear side elevation of the machine. Figure 4 is an elevation of the delivery end of 2 Figure 5 is a plan viewof a diagrammatic representation of the progressive operations of the machine in producing a tea bag with string attached tag.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of adiagrammatic representation of th progressive operationsof the machine in producing a tea bag.

Figure 7 is'a plan view of a portion of the prepared web from which the tea tags areformed.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the tea tag web, shown in Figure 7.

- Figure 9 is an end elevation of the completed tea bagwith string attached tag. r .Figure 10 is a side elevation of the completed tea bag hown in Figure 9. 1

Figure 11 is an enlarged front elevation ofv the commodity hopper assembly. I Figure 12 is an'enlarged side elevation of-the commodity hopper assembly. T

Figure 13 is a section at l3-. l3 of Figure 12. Figure 1411s a section at l4,l4 of Figure 11.. Figure 15 is a sectionat l5-I5 of Figure 12, Figure 16 is anelevation feeding and web'cut-off assembly.

Figure 17 is a planview of Figure 16. 1 Figure 18 is an elevation at l8-I8 of Figure 19. Figure 19,-i an end elevation of Figure- 16.- Figure 20 is an elevation of thetag feeding and tag cut-01f mechanism, showing also .the tagstring support.

Figure 21 is a plan view of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is an end view of Figure 21.. w

Figure 23 is an elevation of the vacuu'm chamberassembly. Figure-24 is an end elevation of Figure 23.

Figure 25 a partial section at 25--25- 25;of

Figure23. Figure 26 is an enlarged view at 26-46 of Fig ure23 showing a'fragment of the turret flange upon which the packag is formed, 4 Figure 27 is a section at 21- 2! of Figure 26. Figure 2 8 is a partial vertical section through the machine showing the vacuum chambershaft assembly.

I Figure 29 is an elevation, partly in section, of

a fragment of the vacuum chamber assembly,-and

valve operating-means. v

Figure 30 isa plan view of Fi um 29.. I -Figure 31 is an endview, partly in section of Figure29. Figure 32 isa section at 32-42 of Figure 30s. Figure 33 is an end view of thetagstring sever-- ing device shown in- Figure 34z.

Figure 34.is a partial vertical the tagstring severing device.

of the wrapper. web

section showin g V Figure 39 is a partial vertical section showing;

the operating mechanism for actuating the commodity dispensing device.

Figure 40 is a partial vertical sectionillustrating the mechanism for operating the wrapper material feeding means, and for cutting off a section of the wrapper material from the wrapper material web.

Figure 41 is a partial vertical section illustrat-- ing the tag web feeding mechanism.

Figure 42 is a partial end view at 42-4-2 of Figure 43.

Figure 43 is a partial vertical section illustrating the operating mechanism for actuating the tag holding rod.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts or features in all of the views.

It will aid toward an understanding of the operation of the machine and of the method of fabricating the package, toflrst explain the action of the machine which effects the production of packages with string attached tag, in substantially flat condition, by a sequence of operations.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6; there is diagrammatically illustrated the successive operations performed by the machine in producing complete packages. A supply roll of wrapper material A, the outer layer of which is passed under guide rod 31, and between feed roll 32 and retaining roll 33. Said rolls operate at predetermined intervals to draw a section of wrapper web from the supply roll A, causing the free end of the wrapper web to contact the surface of turret flange i4. The'said turret flange is provided with suction means to cause the'said wrapper web to be held firmly in place upon the outside surface of the said turret flange. The web A, is then transversely severed by shearing knife 51, thus providing an individual wrapper 13 positioned on the outer surface of the turret flange 14. The turret 66, of which the turret flange 14 is a part, is then caused to pivot about its: center C, causing the wrapper B to move to position D, where a chargeof commodity E is deposited upon a portion of the wrapper B. The commodity is retained in place upon the wrapper by suction; air

being caused to pass about the commodity, through the wrapper, and then through a wire mesh screen on the turret flange 14, and thence the air flows to the inside of a suction chamber within the turret 66. V

After the commodity to be packaged has been positioned on the wrapper, the turret 6G is again moved about pivot C causing the wrapper to move to position F. While the wrapper is travelling to said position F, a section of tag material is drawn from tag web roli H, and the end of the tag web H is positioned on the said turret flange" at position G, a predetermined distance from the wrapper material B. The end portion of the tag web is then severed, by knife51, from the tag section H, to provide an individual tag I (Figs.

'7 and 8). The pivoting of the turret 66 in moving'from position G to F acts to draw a length of tag string K from the string hopper I09 and over string guide block l 13 which serves to guide the string into position upon the wrapper sheet B and the tag I. At position G the wrapper sheet is folded along the line of the tag string, thus the tag string is within the fold of the wrapper sheet, and the commodity to be packaged is between the two leaves of the folded wrapper. The

being performed on the wrapper, a similar heat sealing operation is being performed on a folded tag, to secure together the contacting surfaces of the foldedtag. The tag sealing operation just described is performed on the tag which is secured to the tag string of the previously sealed package. The turret 66' then operates to advance the heat sealed package to position L where the string severing knife 240 operates to cut the tag string at the point between the extremity of the tag and the lower edge of the following sealed package. The completed package is then expelled from contact with the turret flange I l by a slight burst of air from the turret B6. The action of the burst of air helps to carry the completed package in upright position to the delivery unit,

where the packages are picked up and packed for shipment.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate one type of package that may be produced on the machine herein described as the preferred embodiment of my invention. The wrapper material from which the body of the package is formed may be made of gauze, parchment paper, paper made from hemp pulp, or sheets made from thermoplastic materials. The wrapper material should be thin and porous, to permit water to pass freely therethrough, and yet have sufficient strength when wet, to retain the contents therein. The wrapper material may be of any desired kind, however, I prefer a wrapper material that has been previously treated with a thermoplastic substance,

so that the wrapper material will have sealing qualities when subjected to heat and pressure. The four margins M of the package are sealed together by heat and pressure after the commodity E has been placed in position and the wrapper folded with the string 0 within the fold of the wrapper. The operation of sealing the margins M (Fig. 10) of the folded wrapper also serves to secure one end of the tag string 0 within the fold of the Wrapper.

The tag material H and I (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8) from which the tag P (Figs. 9 and 10) is formed, is preferably made of thin paper cardboard having the surfaces adjacent to the string 0, coated with a thermoplastic which will have adhesive qualities when subjected to heat and pressure.

The tag string 0 may be'of any suitable material such as twisted or braided cotton or it may be made of paper or thermoplastic material. The web of tag material H (Figs, 5, 6, 7 and 8) is provided with scored lines R and holes S. The scored lines aid in folding or doubling the tag around the tag string after a tag section I has been cut from the tag web H. The holes S serve adouble purpose in that they diminish the resistance of the tag to being folded on the scored line R, and

provide for the register of the tag web Machine frame andmachine drivingmechcmsm I Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the several cooperating mechanisms comprising the complete machine are supported by a frame'l the upper portion of which supports the main bed plate 2. Mounted within the frame Iis a support plat 3 upon which is secured an air, pump 4,. and an electric motor 5,for driving the said air pump. Also secured within the frame I and belowfthe bed plate 2 is a motor support plate 6,.upon which is'mounted an electric motor I for driving. the machine. Two frame brackets 8 and 9-are1mounted upon the top surface of the bed plate 2. A cam shaft I 0, from which all the mechanically operated mechanisms of the machine are driven, is journalled in said frame brackets 8 and 9. One end of the saidcam shaft I is positioned within, and driven by, gear reduction unit II mounted on the said bed plate 2. Gear reduction devices are well known in the' art, and a detailed description is not'believed necessary. The said gear reduction unit II is driven by a pulley I2 secured thereto. The pulley I2 is in turn driven by endless belt I3 from motor pulley I4 on motor 1. The

machine driving motor I is operated continuous 1y while the machine is in use. When the machine is to be operated to start packaging operations, the endless belt I3 is brought into tight frictional engagement with pulleys .I2'and I4 bythemovement of idler .pulley I5 which is rotatably secured to bell-crank lever I6 mounted'free on shaft I1 secured in frame I. Itwill be obvious that pressure of the said idler pulley I5 on endless belt I3 will cause the said belt to frictionally engage the pulleys I2 and I4, with the..result that the endless belt I3 will drive pulley.l2 from power supplied by. the rotation of motor pulley I4. When the packaging operation is to be stopped for a short time t make adjustments orto replenish the supply of the commodity or. packaging materials, the idler pulley I5 ismoved to release the pressure on the endless belt I3,.with the result that the belt becomes slack on pulleys I2 and I4 and the transfer of power from the'motor pulley I4 to pulley I2 will stop, becausethe endless belt I3 will lie slack on the said pulleys.

The idler pulley I5 is operated in and out of engagement with endless belt I3, to drive or stop the operation of the machine, by hand lever I8 secured to shaft I9 journalled in frame I. A

web cut -oif device are supported from plate 34 .secured to bed' plate 2 by standards 35'. vBearing plates 36 and 3'l have journalled therein ashaft 38 to which is secured the feed roller 32, and .a.

shaft 39 to which is secured-the retaining roller 33.--A feed roller gear 40 is provided on feed rol1er32, and meshes with a retaining roller 33."

The feed roller 4 32 I is intermittently driven, to

advance a section-of wrapper web materialfby ratchet 42 secured to feed roller shaft 38'. Mounted free on said feed shaft 38 is a'ratchet disc 43 provided with a paul pin 44 supporting a ratchet paul 45. It will be obvious that the ratchet 42'will be caused to revolve when' the paul 45 engages the same. The paul 45 is caused to operate, to drive the ratchet, by rotary movement imparted to the ratchet disc 43 by web feeding link 46 mounted free on pin 41 in said ratchet disc 43.

The web feeding link 46 (Fig. 40) is caused to operateup'a'nd down at predetermined intervals by the rocking of web feeding lever 48pivoted on shaft 49. "The lower end of the web feeding link 46 is operatively connected bymeans of pin 50 to said lever 48. The opposite end of lever 48 is provided with a cam roller 5| which is held in contact with the surface of cam 52 by tension spring 53 which has oneof its ends anchored in lever'48 'andits other end'attached to link54. The cam 52. secured to cam shaftlfl, is designed so that when it rotates, the cam wheel '5I is ,causedto travel first up and then down to imlink disk 20, also secured to shaft I9, is provided with a pin 2I which is operatively secured to one end of connecting link 22. The opposite end of connecting link 22-is pivoted on pin 23 secured in arm 24 of bell-crank lever I 5.

Wrapper feeding and cut-017i device b guide rollers 27in contact with the supply roll A. From the supply roll A, the web of wrapper material passes under guide jrod 3| (Figs. 16 and 19) to the nip of feed roller 32 and retaining roller33.

- The wrapper web feeding unit and the wrapper weight of therollers 21, pin 28 and arm 29 serve to keep the 52. at all times.

part the necessary rocking action to lever, to operatethe wrapper feeding mechanism. Each upward movement of link 46 results in the feed roller 32, and-the retaining roller 33, operating to draw a section of wrapper material from the supply roll A. The wrapper material passes'from thefeed roller 32, through the opening 55 '(Fig 16) in plate-55 and then-ceto turret flange I4 (Fig.1). The'web feeding mechanism is adjusted so'that when a suflicient length of web material has been advanced to provide wrapping material'for one package, a web severing device operates to cut off the wrapper material-ad- *vanced'from the web'roll A. I

The web cut-off. device includes a shearing knife 5'!- (Figs. 18 and 19) pivoted on pin '58 secured in bearing plate 31. The shearing knife 5'Iis provided with an arm' 59 to which a shearing knife link 54 is operatively connected by means-or pin 60. The upward movement of said link 54' causes the "shearing knife 51. to pivot downwardly to shear the wrapper web to provide a. section of wrapper material suflicient for one package.'- The lower end of the shearing knife .link is operatively connected to lever 62 (Fig.

The said lever 62 is r 40) by means of pin 63. mounted free on pin 64 secured in frame bracket 8. IA cam follower 65, rotatably mounted on pin 63,'is retained in contact with the'surface of cam 52;.1JA tension: spring 53, having one of its endsattached to shearing knife link 54 and its other end anchored in lever 48, operates to keep the cam follower 65 in engagement with cam The rotationof cam 52 causes the lever 62 to first pivotupwardly to actuate'the shearing knife which seve-rs the web of wrapper material, and then to raise the'knife ready for another severing operation. I

Turret, vacuum chamber, and delivery mecha "FY0111 the DD r'Web material feedingand gear 4| secured to tended position.

wrapper web severing mechanisms. a section of wrapper material is delivered to the surfaceof turret flange 14 (Figs. 1, 2' and 23 to 32 inclusive).

The vertical turret 86 is secured to horizontal turret shaft 81 (Fig. 28) vjournalled in bearing 88 supported on bed plate 2; the outer end of the turret shaft 81 is journalled in bearing brack-r et 69 secured to frame brackets 8 and 9.

The turret shaft 01 is caused to come to a position of rest eight times with each revolution thereof. This operation is effected by means of driving disc I secured to shaft 81. The driving disc." has positioned in spaced apart relation on its outer margin, eight driving lugs II rotatably mounted on pins 12 secured in the said -of rest before the worm gear engages the next driving lug to repeat the cycle. The turret 68 is secured to turret shaft 81 as is the driving disc I0; thus the turret 66 revolves in the samemanner as the driving disc 10.

The turret 66 is provided with a continuous,

horizontally extending radial flange I4. The said radial flange I4 is provided at eight positions on the outside thereof, with" substantially flat surfaces I5.

Openings I8 (Figs. and 26), through the flange I4, are provided at the position of each flat surface I5. Each opening 18 is covered with a screen of fine mesh wire 11, and the rim of the opening I8 is provided with a mat 18'of felt or other suitable material. A knife slot I9 is provided adjacent to each flat surface I5. A tag recess 80 is provided in close proximity to each knife slot I9. A tag string groove 8| (Fig. 24) into which the tag stringis positioned, serves to hold the tag string in proper: relation with the tag and the wrapper. A tag string clamping device (Fig. 26) comprising a clamp 82 is slidably retained in recess 83 by rod 84 secured in plunger 85. The plunger 85 is slidably positioned in pocket 86. A compression spring 81 is also positioned in pocket 86 behind the plunger 85. The said compression spring 81 acts to hold the string clamp 82 tightly against the inside of the string groove 8 I, to hold the tag string within the groove until the proper position of the turret is reachedv to release the tag string. The plunger 85 is normally positioned to project beyond the edge of the turret flange HI, so that in order to place the tag string within the groove 8|, or to remove the tag string from the groove, it is merely necessary to press the projecting portion of the plunger 85 with the result that the clamp 82 will bereleased from engagement with the inside of groove 8|. When pressure is removed from the projecting portion 85, the compression spring operates to return the clamp 82 tightly against the inside-0f groove 8| and to return the provacuum chamber flange 88 ismaintained insta;

chambers 89, 90, 9|, 92, 93 and 94, by means of partitions 95, 98, 91, 98, 99 and I00. Chambers 89 and 9| are connected together by air pipe MI. The chamber 89 is also provided with a pipe I02 which runs to the intake of air pump 4 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). I Chamber 93 is connected by pipe I08 with the exhaust on the air pump 4. Partition 95, between chambers 89 and 90, has a round opening I03 (Figs. 29,30, 31 and 32) therein which is provided with a butter-fly valve I08 mounted on spindle I05 pivotally positioned in vacuum chamber flange 88. The spindle I05 has secured thereto a lever I06 to one end of which is' fastened a tension'spring I01; the other end of the said spring I0! is anchored on pin I08 projecting from vacuum chamber flange 88. The butter-fly valve I04 is normally inopen'position within the opening I03. "When it is desired to close the valve to stop the passage of air between chambers 89 and 90, the lever I06 is raised sufiiciently to permit the tension in spring I01 to turn the spindle to close the valve. The operating mechanism for actuating lever I08 will be hereinafter described.

In the operation of the machine for producing filled packages withv string attached tags, the wrapper material and the commodity to be packaged are held in place, on the'turret flange 14, by suction produced by drawing air from certain chambers of the vacuum chamber flange 88, thus causing a pressure of air at the'openings I8 in the turret flange.

From the wrapper feeding and cut-off mechanism a sheet of wrapper material is presented in register upon the wire mesh screen 11 over an opening I6 in the turret flange Id. The timing of the wrapper feed is such that an opening 18 jecting portion of plunger 85 to its normally ex- I The stationary vacuum chamber flange 88 (Figs. 23, 24 and 25) is positioned in contact with the inner diameter of turret flange I4. The-said in the turret flange arrives at the proper position to receive the wrapper as it leaves the cutoff device. The wrapper is held in position upon the screen 'II over the opening I8 by suction caused by the action of pump 4 drawing air from chamber 89 through air pipe I02.

With the wrapper in position on the turret flange I4, the turret is moved to carry the wrapper upward where the turret comes to a position of rest under the commodity discharging device. When a charge of commodity is freed above the wrapper it is drawn by suction to thatportion of the wrapper that lies over the opening I6 in the turret flange 14. The wrapper material, being thin and porous does not prevent air passing freely therethrough, for that reason the commodity is held securely in place upon the wrapper by suction, in the same manner that the wrapper is held in position. o

- While the commodity isbeing delivered upon the wrapper, an unfolded tag is positioned in the tag recess in turret flange F4, in advance of the wrapper. The tag thus positioned is to be attaehed to the proceeding package by a tag string in the sequence of singly and successively producing packages. The tag is positioned with approximately half of its length extending over the edge of the turret flange, so that when it is folded over the string, as presently to be described, it will kwrapper'a'nd upon the unfolded tag. A supply of tag string K (Figs. 20, 21 and 22) is contained in the string-hopper I89 attached to the tag roll bracket I III which in turn is secured to cross bar III. The cross bar III connects together the frame ,brackets. 8 and 9. The tag stringK is drawn over string lead bar II2 secured to the string hopper I09, thence the string is drawn over string guide block I I3 which is positioned directly over-the, point-of the turret flange 14, where the wrappers and tags travel. From the string guide block II3 ,the1: string is laid overthe wrapper and. tag lying thereundenand thence, to the tag string groove 8I (Fig. 26) where thestring is se cured therein by clamp 82. clamped within the string groove of the turret flange, and as the turret revolves, a corresponding length of string is drawn from the supply hopper. -The rotation of the turret flange I4 causes the clamp plungers 85 to successively contact the stationary clamp opening bar 261 secured to the carriage bracket I 29. The clamp plunger 85, as it moves to position where the tag string enters the groove 8 I, is engaged by the plunger operating bar 261- which opens the clamp 82 to receive the tag string. ,-After the said plunger 85 is moved out of contact with the bar 26! the plunger returns tOaltS normal position and clamp 82 operates to hold the tagstring within the groove 8 I jInthe next operation, the turret flange l4is again rotated a part of a revolution to bring the wrapper, with the commodity positioned thereon, overchamber 9D. While'the turret flange is again brought to a momentary position of rest, a folding device,- to be hereinafter described, operates to m-argins of the folded wrapper, thus sealing the commodity within the wrapper to. form a package. The string within the wrapper isalso sealed within the package bythe same operation. While the package is being sealed a similar operation is performed [by the tag sealing unit to seal together the folded tag and to seal the tag string therein. After the folding operation just described, has been performed, and'while the heat sealing mechanisms are moving to perform the sealing operation; the suction action which holds the package inposition' on the turret flange; is diminished by partially closing the opening I03 in partition 95,

by meansof'the butter-flyvalve I04. The purpose of relieving the suction action on the wrapper prior to the heat sealing operation, is to allow the wrapper margins to befree ofwrinkles while the sealing operation is being performed, to pro- Thetagstring is of a following package and the tag attachedito the previously completed package.

The-turret flange is again rotated a part of a the chamber 93 with the exhaust of the pump, j serves to force air into the chamber 93, with'the result that the-package over the corresponding opening I6 in the turret flange l4, is. expelled from contactwith turret flange by the force of the, air passing through the said opening. The

, bottom thereof-which is providedwith a supply expelled package with the stringattached tag, is guided by plate II4 (Fig.4) to fall' in upright position between delivery angles II5, with the bottom edge of the package resting on endless delivery belt I I6. The delivery anglesfll5 are supported by angles II! which in turn are supported-by brackets H8 and l25fsecured to frame I. The outer end of the delivery belt II-B issupported by idler pulley I I9 joumalled in angles Ill.

The opposite end of the delivery belt H6 is mounted on driven pulley I20 secured to shaft I2I, journalled in plate I2'Ii. The shaft I2I is driven by sprocket I22. The sprocket I23'Ysecu'red to turret shaft 61 operates to drive sprocket I22 by means of endless chain I24.

Commodity feeding mechanism The commodity feeding mechanism is positioned above the turret flangel l and is arranged so that the discharge opening is over the path of travel of the unfolded wrapper. The'timing of the operation of mechanism for discharging the commodity is synchronized with the wrapper advancing means; so that the commodity is discharged at the timethat. a wrapper arrives in proper position to reoeivethe charge.

A supply of the commodity to be packaged is placed in hopper I21 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11' to 15 inclusive) which is supported by hopper bracket I 28 secured to carriage bracket I29. The carriage bracket I28 is supported byfeeder support member I30 secured to the'cross bar I I I. j

The hopper bracket I28 has an openingjat the control shutter I3I slidably secured in the said vide a smooth package. After the sealing opera- 7 hopper bracket. The purpose of the said shutter I3I is to close or open the opening in the hopper bracket I28 as desired. "The said shutter has'an opening I32 therein which, when it is in alinement with the opening in the hopper bracket I28, permits the commodity to pass therethroughi This is the normal position of the shutter and it is not changed while the machine is in operation. However, if the machine it to be shutdown .for any'reason, or if a different commodity isto I be packaged bythe machine, or if it is desired to remove the contents of the hopper without, I

having the commodity packaged, the shutter is pushed inward, by hand so that the opening I32 in the shutter I3I will'be moved away from the opening in hopper bracket I28, and thus a flat surface of the shutter I3I willclose the opening in the hopper bracket. v

In the operation "of the commodity feeding mechanism, a supply of the material to be pack- A portion of aged is placed in'the' hopper I21. the commodity passes downward by gravity, throughthe openings in the hopper bracket I28 and shutter I3I and through openin I33 in the carriage bracket I29, thence the commodity comes tcrest in a pocketjl 34in carriage bar I35. The

adjusting block I36. serves ,as, the bottom of the pocket il3 4.. The carriage bar, I35 is slidably p0- sitioned in' carriage bracket I29. The carriage bar I35 is moved at predetermined intervals to carry the commodity in the pocket I34 to the recess I31 formed by the opening between the sta engagement with carriagebar I35 by means of bolt I40, therefore when the carriage bar returns to its normal position the feeding shutter perates to again close the bottom of recess I31.

' The size of recess I31 may be increased or decreased as desired, byrchanging the position of adjusting bar I36 in its relation with stationary block I38 This'is effected by turning adjusting nut I 4| which is operatively positioned on stud I 42. :The opposite end of the stud I42 is secured in stationary stud bar I43. The adjusting bar I36 is held in engagement with the adjusting nut MI by a compression sp I4 O st It will be obvious that by turning-the nut I4I on the screw threads of thestud I42, in the conventional 'manner, the adjusting bar I36 will be moved to approachor recede from the stationary block- I38,' depending on whether the recess is desired to be made smaller or larger. The ad lusting/bar I36 is supported .by adjusting bar guides I45 secured to the under side of carriage bracket I29. The feed shutter I39 is held in operating position, against the adjusting bar I36 and the stationary block I38, by shutter guides I46 secured to the adjusting bar guides I45. The carriage bar "I35, and the feed shutter I39 attached thereto, are operated at timed intervals to carry the commodity to be packaged, from the hopper and discharge it through recess I31.

Movement isimparted to the carriage bar I35 by K carriage link I41 pivotally secured to pin I48 in the end of carriage bar I 35. The other end of the carriage link I41 is pivotally secured to car'- ri'age' lever I49 (Fig. 2) bym'eans of pin I50. The

roll bracket IIO. A web of tag'material is drawn from the supply roll Hand passed under pin I62 on the tag roll bracket, thence the tag web is led over platen 'I 63. 1

The tag web is advanced intermittently by the successive engagement of finger I64 with the holes S (Fig. '1) which are provided in the tag web. The finger I64 is actuated through pin I14 by lever I65 secured to shaft I66 pivoted in bearin I61 of the tag roll bracket IIII. Also secured to shaft I66 is a lever I68 which is connected to link I69 by means of pin I10. The shaft I66 has secured thereto a lever I1I which is connected by pin I12 with link I13 which in turn is connected by means of pin I15 to score breaker I16 which is pivoted on pin I11 secured to tag roll bracket IIO.

The downward movement of link I69 operates to move the ends of levers I65 and I68 downward, with the result that the point of finger I64 engages one of the holes S in the ta web and urges the tag Web for-ward, thus feeding a length of tag web sufficient for one tag. The motion of link I69 is then reversed and the linkmoved upward with the result that the finger I64 is brought back to its original position to repeat the operation of feeding another length of tag web. The lower end of link I69'is connected to one arm of lever 259 by means of pin 260. The lever 259 is fulcrumed on shaft 49. A second arm of lever 259 is provided with a pin 26I upon which is positioned a cam roller 262. The cam roller 262 is maintained at all times in contact with'cam 263 secured to cam shaft I0. The tension spring 264,

' having one end secured to pin 260 and its other end anchored in bed plate 2, serves to hold the cam roller 262 in contact with the cam 263. The rotation of cam 263, acting through cam roller 26I, and lever 259, serves to impart to link I69 the movement necessary to perform the desired functions.

The further movement upward of the link I69, (Figs. 20 and 41) serves to cause the lever I1I to move downward, with the result that link I13 connected therewith operates to bringthe scorebreaker I16 into contact with theta weband to momentarily bend the tag web downward to break the score R,'thus rendering the tag folding hub end of carriage lever I49 is secured to shaft I51 -journalled in .feeder bracket I30. The said shaft I51 is actuated by lever I52, to pivot the carriage lever I49, first forward and then backward, to operate the carriage bar I35. Operative: 1y secured to lever I52, by means of pin I53, is a connecting'link I 54 (Fig. 39)-having its lower end pivotally secured by pin I55 to the outer end of lever I56 which is pivotally mounted onpin I51. Acam follower I58 is' rotatably mounted on said pin I55. A tension spring I59, havingone end secured to lever I52 and its other end anchored in frame bracket '8, operates through link I54 to maintain the cam follower I58 at all times in contact with the surface of cam I60 which is secured to cam shaft I0. Each rotation ofv the cam I60 first causes the link I54 to move upward and then downward. This motion is transmitted, by means just described, to actuate the carriage bar I35 of the commodity feeding mechanism.

Tag feeding; holdingond cutting mechanisms; and tag string feeding means The tag feeding unit (Figs, 20, 21 and 22) is composed of the tagroll bracket and the mechanisms'supported' th'ereon. The tag supply roll H is mounted on' spindle I61 secured'in'the tag operation less difficult. With each downward movement of link I69 a length of tag material is'advanced from the supply roll,.and with each upward movement of the link I69 the tag web feeding mechanism returns to position to repeat the feeding operation. Each upward movement of link I69 also operates the mechanism which breaks a score R in the tag web.

Positioned above the tag web is a device which prevents the tag web from slipping in the direction opposite to the normal travel of the tag web. This device consists of a friction dog I18.;pivoted on'pin I19 secured intag roll bracket 0. The point of the friction dog I18 is so positioned that it is normally in engagement with .the'tagweb and offers no appreeiableresistance to the travel IBI 'fulcrumed on pin I82 secured in-tagroll bracket H0. The said lever I8| is actuated to cause the shearing knife I80 to operate up and.

down at predetermined intervals to cut lengths of tag material from theweb asit is advanced. Each shearing operation provides from the tag web sufficient material for one tag.

The link I83 is operated-up and down at timed intervals by lever I85 (Fig. 38), fulcrumedon shaft 49. The pin "I88 servesto pivotally connect said link I83 with one end of lever I85. The opposite end of lever I85 is provided with 'a pin I81 upon which is mounted a camfollower I88. The cam follower-|88 is maintained at all times in contact with the surface of the camI89 which is secured to cam shaft I0. Each revolution of cam I89 causes the lever I85 to: operate the link I83 first upward to and then downward,- to actuthen horizontally to raise aportion ofv the wrapperv and fold it over the string positioned thereon.

Thus the wrapper is folded double with the com- 1 modity positioned therein. The wrapper folding operation is aided by the flow of air which is drawn through the wrapper'at the 'point'where the commodity is positioned thereon. The folding bar 202 starts the folding operation, loutbe-- fore the folding operation is completed, the suc tion caused by the flow of air :through wrapper completes-the folding operation, by drawing-the ate the shearing knife I80 as above descri bed.-

A tension spring I90, havingone ofits ends secured in link I83 and its other end anchored in bed plate 2, serves in an obvious manner to keep the cam follower I88 in contact with the surface ofcam I89;

At the time thatthe unfolded tag is being severed from the tag web by shearing knife I80,

the portion of the tag positionedinthe tag recess 80 in turret flange I4, is'held 'in place in said recess by the tag holding rod I9I '(FigS.'4:2 and 43). The operation of this tag holding-rod serves to frictionally hold the unfolded tag in position on the turret flange l4 until the turret flange is moved to the position where a length of tag'string is laid upon the tag, the string-thereafter serves behold the tagin proper position. The said-tag holding rod |9| is secured to, and operated'up and down at predetermined intervals, by link I92 which is pivoted on pin I93 secured in bearing I94'attached to frame'cross bar III. The said link I92 is actuated by verticallink I95 pivotally secured to pin I96 in link I92. The lower end of vertical link I95 is pivotally-secured to pin I91 .on lever I98. The lever I 98 is secured to one end I I I2, thence the string passes to string guide block 3 secured to tag bracket I I0. The string guide block I I3 is positioned to guide the tag stringinto the tag string groove 8| in the turret flange "I4; The tag string isclam ped in the tag string-groove portion of the wrapper being lifted fljrmlyiover the portion of the wrapper containing the commodity. l, The folding bar 202 has secured thereto an 'operatingbar 203 inwhich a slot pin 204 anda pivot pin 205 are secured. The slot pin- 204 is slidably positioned in a slot-. 206 provided in slotted angle 201 secured to'cross bar I II. The-pivot pin' 205 is engaged by operating lever 208 secured to shaft 209 operatively mounted in abearing 2 I0 which is secured to the turret bearing 69. A link" lever 2I| secured to shaft 209 has a link 2I3 pivotally secured thereto by means of pin 2 I2. The lower end of link 2|3 is secured'to Ilever 2I4 by pin' 2fl5. The lever 2|4is fulcrumedon shaft 49, and 'is'operated by a cam roller 2|6 rotatably mounted on pin 2|! secured in an. arm of said lever2l4. Thecam roller 2|6 engages a cam 2|8 which is secured to cam shaft I0." A tension spring 2| 9 has its upper end secured to lever 2| I by means of eye bolt 220, and the lower end of the said spring is anchored in eye bolt 22| secured inbed plate 2. The spring 2|9 serves in an obvious inanner to maintain the cam rollerv 2 I 6 in con- 8| bymeans of a string clainpingdevice hereine after described. The said clamping device is opened to receive the tag string byengagement of a plunger 85 with a clamp opening bar 261 (Fig. 1). After the turret flange'14 has been re-- volved to carry the string clamping device out of contact with the clamp opening bar 291, the clamp operatesto secure the'tag string within the tag groove 8|. Therotation of; the turret flange I4 7 serves to draw the tag string from the tag string hopper I09 and lay the tag string over the unfolded wrapper and tag positioned on the said turret flange.

Wrapper folding and tag folding mechanism The wrapper folding and tag folding operation is'efi'ected by the action of folding bar 202'-( Fig's*.'

tact with the cam 2I8. Each rotation of the cam 2- 8'causes the link 2I3-to move first upward and 1-, en downward. The downward movement of the link 2 I 3, acting through levers"2;| I and 208, causes the operating bar. 203 to lizfitthe folding bar 202 first upwardly at an angle and then horizontally. This motion is imparted to the operating bar 203 by the'pivoting and sliding action of pin 204 a it ismoved in slot 206 in the angle20'l. The pin 204 is' caused to move in the s1o t'206by lever208 acting through pin 205.

I While the folder bar 202 is performing theoperationfof folding'the package wrapper, the said folder "bar is at the same time "folding the tag material over tag string positioned thereon.

Wrappefand tag s ealing mechdmsm' After the completion of the wrapper folding and tag folding operations have been completed, the folded wrapper and the folded tag are subjected to the action of heat sealing devices which seal together the superposed margins of the wrappor end seal together-the contacting surfaces of the doubled tag. The sealing operation also causes the section of tag string within the wrap per to be secured thereto; and the tag sealing operation results in the tag string within the fold of the tagbeing sealed therein.

The-wrapper sealing arm222 (Figs. 1 and 4) which supports wrapper sealing block228 is secured to heater operating shaft 223 one'end of which is mounted free in bearing 224 in frame bracket 9 and the other end in support bar 225 which is secured to angle'226 fastened to bed plate 2. Also secured to shaft 223 is the tag sealing arm 221 to which the tag sealing block 229 is. fastened. .The operating lever 230' (jFigs-.- 4 and 35) secured to'shaft 2291s operated up and down at predetermined intervals. y link 23|- (Fig.85')

as and 37.)" which operates-first upwardly'and pivotally secured to said lever 238 by pin 232.

I Up and down motion is imparted tolink 23: by

bell-crank lever 233 pivotally connected to the lower end of link 23l by pin 234. I The said bell- .crank lever 233 is pivotally positioned on shaft 48. One arm of the said lever 233 hassecured thereto a pin 235 upon. which is rotatably mounted a cam roller 235." The-cam roller 236 is kept in contact with the surface of cam 231, which is secured to cam shaft [8; by the tension spring 238 the lower end of which is secured to hellcrank lever 233. .The upper end of the said spring 238 is anchored in eye bolt 239 secured in crossbar I l l. The rotation of cam 23'], acting through the cam roller 236 and pin 235, causes the bellcrank lever to rock on shaft 49., Thus the 'link 23! is moved first downward to bring the wrapper sealing block 228 into sealing contact with the package, and the tag sealing block. 229 into sealing contact with the folded tag. The upward movement of link 23! results in the wrapper sealing block and the tag sealing block being raised upwardly ready to operate again at the next revolution of cam 231. I I g I The energy for supplying heat to the wrapper sealingblock 228 and the tag sealing block 229 may be of any desired kind. However, electric energy is preferred. The wrapper sealing block 228 and the tag sealing block 229 are connected by electric wires to switch boxes 2B5 (Figs. land 4) mounted on panel 263 secured to tie bar I. The electric wiring has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

While the wrapper sealing operation is being performed, the suction action, which holds the wrapper tightly in position on the turret flange It, is partially released, with the result that the wrapper will return to a more flat condition and thus conform more readily to the. action of the wrapper sealing block 228.

The mechanism which causes the reduction of suction which holds the wrapper in place, has been included in. the description of the vacuum chamber. However, the operating device which actuates the mechanism for reducing the suc- ,tion, comprises a plate lever 2 (Fig. 29) which is secured to shaft 223. Secured'to outer end of plate lever 24! is a pin 255. b

Each downward movement of thewrapper sealing arm 2 22 which-is secured to shaft .223, as; is the plate lever 24!; causes the pin. 255 on said lever 2 to actuate the mechanism which reduces the suction action on the wrapper.

Tag string cutting and package expelling,"

' mechanism I I After the wrapper sealing and tag sealing operations: have been completed, the turret flange '14 is again rotated a part of a revolution to bring the package previously sealed. into position to have the tag String. severed at the point where the tag string connects with the succeeding package assembly. 1 I

The tag string cutting devices comprises a knife 248 (Figs. 4, 3'3 and 34:) fixedinknife holdor 242' which is'secured to shaft 243.. The said shaft 243 is mounted in bracket 2.42 which is secured to frame bracket 9. The. shaft. 243i is provided with a. spring lever 2.45 which has atension spring 245 secured to its outer end. The other end of the spring. 245 is anchored in lug 241 secured to frame bracket 3. Also secured to shaft 2&3 is a cam: 1ever-248-which is provided with. a can; follower 250. The camfollower 2.58

is; positioned to engage can-1251i secured to cam i5 spouses shaft l8. Also secured to cam shaft 18 is a hook disc 252.. Mounted on shaft 2'13 is a compression spring 253 which is positioned between bracket 244 and. collar 254 secured to said shaft.

In the operation of the tag string cutting device each revolution of cam- 25l causes the cam follower 258 to move downward as it follows the contour of the said cam 25L The downward movement of the cam follower 258 causes the cam lever 249 to turn the shaft 243, with the result that spring lever- 245 andknife holder 242 will pivot onshaft 243. The cam follower258 is maintained in contact with the surface of cam 25! by the action of the tension spring 286. ,It will be obvious that the downward movement of the cam follower 258 will move the knife 248 to engage the turret flange 14. The timing of the cam action and the revolving of the turret flange is such that the cutting knife 248 will enter the knife slot 18 in the turret flange 14 at predetermined intervals to contact the tag string which lies across the said knife slot.

While the knife 248 is in contact withv the tag string, the knife is drawn across the string to sever the same, by the action of hook disc 252 (Figs. 4, 33 and 34) which each revolution thereof causes hook 256 to engage disc 25'! thus drawing the disc 25'! and the shaft 243 longitudinally thereof, with the result that the knife 248 will be drawn across the tag string to sever the same. The hook 258 on the hook disc 252 is so designed that it only momentarily engages the disc 25'! which is held in normal positionby the compression spring 253.

While the tag string cutting operation is being performed, the completed package is expelled from the surface of the turretflange 14 by the; passage of air from the chamber 83 through an opening 16 in the said turret flange. The chamber 83 is connected by means of air pipe. 188. with the exhaust of the air pump 4. The

action: of the current of air passing through the opening 78 caused the package to be moved outwardly away from the turret flange, but the package remains in hinged contact with the turret-flange 14 until the tag string is released from the tag string. clamp 82. The rotation of turret fiange 'll causes the plungers (Fig. 26) positioned in the rim of the turret flange I! to be successively engaged by plate 258 which is secured to support bar 225. The plungers 85 are successively pushed inwardly by contact. with said plate 258. The result of pushing the plunger inward isto release the tag string clamp 82 from contact with the tag string on the completed package. The timingof the engagement of. the plunger 85 with plate 258 is such that after the tag string cutting. operation has been performed and the package has been blown. outwardly hinged from-the turret'fiange, the corresponding plunger 85 will release the clamp 82 which hold the tag string. to the turret flange.

. When; the-package assembly is freefrom all engagement with the turret flange 7-4 it falls upon the diagonal packagei guide H t which serves to guide the: package downwardin upright position between the angles H5. Thus-the bottom edge of the package contacts the delivery belt H5 which is driven by mean previously described. The completed packages-are picked up from the delivery belt H6 and packed for shipment.

Changes in the construction, operation, andsequence of operations of my improved machine may bemade without departing from. the spirit of my invention. The vertical turret and the 

